Five Lessons Learned From Hov
We were recently honored to finally get Jay Z’s music back on Spotify this past week on December 4th, his birthday. Super flex if you ask me. However, I’m happy because now I don’t have to finesse a Tidal trial 3 times a year like I usually do.
As I dived back into the discography, I found myself happy to hear some of the songs I haven’t heard in a while. Like most late 20-somethings, Jay holds a special place in my heart. Every album dropped during my formative years shaped me in some way.
So for this installment of Lovestein’s Listens, here are five songs by our favorite uncle that taught me how to move in a room full of vultures. See what I did there?
“U Don’t Know’
Work, work, then work some more. The struggle is never pretty but if you’re maneuvering around it unscathed, you’re good. Play calculated and smart. Keep your options open and find ways to advance yourself further.
“Mama ain’t raise no fool, put me anywhere on God’s green earth I’ll triple my worth. I will not lose.”
‘Lost One’
Everybody can’t go, period. You find yourself in spaces after you’ve grown and matured, and the people you came up with look at you crazy. It’s amazing to think that friends can just separate and go their own ways after so much time put in. But it takes for you to understand that maybe you aren’t the problem. It could be them, and frankly, that doesn’t have to be your concern all the time.
“Time don’t back, it goes forward. Can’t run from the pain, go towards it”
‘American Dreamin’
Keep a plan. Know your strengths, weaknesses, pros, and cons. Everybody in this world got a thing they’re searching for. Sometimes people are chasing the same thing but you have to set yourself a part. What makes you special? What makes you worthy of having that one thing you want? Again, stay calculated and understand that end goal.
“Nothing wrong with aim, just gotta change your target”
‘Murder to Excellence’
Being Black in a certain level professionally is interesting. You’re happy to get to your goals and reach certain levels of success. But you find yourself asking “Do I even belong here?” You do. Allow yourself to thrive in these spaces. You worked hard just like everybody else, stay in the place you deserved and show them why you’re there. Own the kingdom you cultivated for yourself.
“Domino, domino. Only spot a few Blacks the higher I go.
‘Legacy’
After all the work, allow the fruit of labor to flourish in it’s rightful place. The foundations you build are for your family and the generations that will follow. And the foundation isn’t just money, it’s emotional. Generational curses could be done with you making one decision that wasn’t made by your ancestors. We’ve seen so much go bad in our families, and the fallouts from it. Imagine doing something good, exhibiting morality, and creating better habits for the future? Legacy lives on, always.
“See how the universe works? It takes my hurt and help me find more of my self. The gift and the curse.”
